Crowds came to watching 50 firefighters battle the blaze despite warnings to avoid the area (Picture: Harry Leach/Birmingham Mail)
Residents have been told to close their windows and doors as black smoke fills the air in Birmingham.
Some 50 fire fighters battled a blaze on Lower Tower Street near the city centre this afternoon after a car was ‘engulfed in flames’.
Crews rescued a man from the ‘mixed-use industrial yard’ where the fire is believed to have started in the Aston area of the city shortly after 3pm.
People on social media reported hearing ‘explosions’ in the area, where visibility was severely limited by thick smoke that could be seen for miles.
Despite bus services being suspended and the fire service warning people to avoid the area, dozens of people came out to watch.
Smoke could be seen for miles as a black cloud rose over Birmingham (Picture: Harry Leach/Birmingham Mail)
A man was rescued from the industrial site where the fire broke out (Picture: Harry Leach/Birmingham Mail)
One local told BirminghamLive: ‘I don’t know what happened but it spread really quickly. Smoke everywhere. I live around the corner and came to have a look.’
Gym-goer Shane said: ‘I’ve seen a few fires in Brum, not like this one though. [Firefighters] were here within seconds after it started, it felt like.’
Firefighters arrived with 10 fire engines and a hydraulic aerial platform in an attempt to put out the fire.
West Midlands Fire Service said: ‘The fire, containing waste materials, is now surrounded and good progress continues to be made.
‘Although the smoke plume has been vastly reduced, please keep doors and windows closed if you’re affected by smoke. Road closures remain in place.’
Summer Lane has re-opened since its initial closure, but Lower Tower Street ‘remains closed whilst the highway is cleared of debris’, the fire service said.
Fire crews are expected to be on the scene overnight.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.